What is House Bill H.R. 866?

This bill would require federal buildings that are open to the public and have a public restroom to provide a lactation room that’s separate from the bathroom, is hygienic, and available for use by members of the public. The lactation room must be shielded from public view, be free from intrusion, and contain a chair, a working surface, and an electrical outlet (if the building has electricity). Breastfeeding women wouldn't be required to use the lactation room.

Under current law, the federal government is required to provide lactation rooms for federal workers.

Impact

Breastfeeding mothers; federal buildings; and the federal government.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 866

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

More Information

“The benefits of breastfeeding are well-documented, and federal policy has long encouraged nursing. Considering millions of people visit federal sites across the country, and particularly here in the nation’s capital, visiting nursing mothers should also have access to dedicated lactation spaces they need to safely pump breastmilk for their newborns. My bill does not require new federal funds or new or exclusive spaces to be permanently set aside only for lactation, only that space must be available as needed.”

During the last Congress, this bill's predecessor passed both the full House and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on voice votes before it stalled in the Senate. It had the support of three cosponsors in the House, including two Democrats and one Republican.

... and a filthy bathroom or empty office ain’t it. Good rooms are warm, have comfortable places to sit, a changing table, a sink with hot water and paper towels, a table near a outlet to set all the paraphernalia on, and room to park strollers. In office buildings where the mother may be working a small fridge to store pumped milk is also great(because people freak out if you put breast milk in the canteen fridge). Support healthy mothers and healthy babies.

Since so many people become so upset by their own sexualizing of nursing—yes, yes I want rooms in public buildings for mothers to be able to nurse their babies in peace. Bathrooms are no place for a nursing baby.

There will always be breastfeeding moms. It has somehow become so controversial to see a mother feed her child in public, many of us are afraid to do so. Having rooms available would be good to make some more comfortable. But it should not be used to segregate nursing moms from the rest. Just be available should they choose to use it.

Yes, federal buildings should provide a lactation room that’s separate from the bathroom, is hygienic, and available for use by members of the public. The lactation room must be shielded from public view, be free from intrusion, and contain a chair, a working surface, and an electrical outlet (if the building has electricity). Breastfeeding women wouldn't be required to use the lactation room.

Of course lactation should have a dedicated area separate from public restrooms. Two reasons: 1) there is no place to be seated in restrooms so breastfeeding is not logistically possible and 2) feeding should not be proximal to eliminatory functions for hygiene reasons. -- RN specializing in maternity and lactation

Yes. Of course having a place to feed your child is good idea. They used to have rooms for smokers back in the day. Please stop with the micro management of the American public. It looks like another shutdown looms and you folks on both sides of the isle don’t think compromise is good idea. Fund the Wall, Save DACA, extend work permits, and create an amnesty program that helps people become citizens sooner rather then decades later. Problem solved, both sides, get what they want, and then Congress can go to work on issues that affect the country.

Rules are already in place that these types of facilities be in place for employee use at federal buildings. Expand that rule to allow public and get about the primary job of Congress, enacting legislation to fund all agencies and compromise on building a barrier of some sort.

Of course federal buildings should accommodate women who want to breastfeed! Breastfeeding is just simply healthier than providing infant formula and women should be able to have a private place where they can feed their babies.

Yes, and the Capitol building seeing as it is a building built with TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS and a PUBLIC BUILDING MUST HAVE OUR ELECTED PUBLIC SERVANTS FOLLOW THE SAME RULES THAT APPLY TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY "NO SMOKING." MR BOEHNER USED TO SMOKE CIGARS IN HIS OFFICE. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER PROBLEM IN A LONG LIST. THEY THINK THEY ARE BETTER THAN "WE THE PEOPLE" AND DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME LAWS! BULLSHIT